Andromeda constellation

andromeda constellation

Within the constellations of the sky we find some that are documented by the astronomer Irrigation Ptolemy. Among the 48 constellations documented by this astronomer of which 88 modern constellations are found, we have the Andromeda constellation. It is a constellation that can be seen from any latitude as long as it is above 40 degrees south. In interior latitudes, the constellation stays below the horizon and is located in the first quadrant of the northern hemisphere.

In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, history, origin and composition of the Andromeda constellation.

Key features

constellation set

Within the list of 88 modern constellations, Andromeda ranks 19th in terms of its size. Its area from 722 square degrees and its adjoining constellations are: Cassiopeia, the Lizard, Pegasus, perseus, the Fish and the Triangle. Among the most important objects that belong to the constellation of is the Andromeda galaxy. This galaxy is also known by the name of Messier 31. It is a type of spiral galaxy that is the closest to the Milky Way.

One of the main characteristics of the Andromeda constellation is that it is known to have large meteor showers called Andromedids. Rain occurs every year in the month of November, because it takes place an entrance to the atmosphere from the remains of Comet Biela. This meteor shower has been especially spectacular during the last decades of the XNUMXth century. Since at present there are hardly any remains of the comet, it is practically impossible to observe this shower with the naked eye.

Origin and mythology of the Andromeda constellation

andromedra galaxy

As can be seen in Greek mythology, Andromeda was the daughter of Cassiopeia and Cepheus. They were both kings of Ethiopia. The figure of Andromeda plays an important role in the myth of Perseus. In mythology it is said that Queen Cassiopeia always boasted that her daughter was the most beautiful of all the Nereids. The Nereids were nymphs that possessed great beauty and that lived at the bottom of the sea. Due to Cassiopeia's insolence, the rest of the Nereids and gave revenge to the God Poseidon.

It is from then on where the problems began. In response to requests from the Nereids, Poseidon sent the monster Cetus to destroy the reindeer of Cassiopeia and Cepheus. In their defense, they used the Oracle of Amun and he transmitted that in order to save his kingdom, he had to sacrifice his daughter Andromeda in order to calm the monster. It is then that Andromeda was tied to a rock near the sea and was offered as a tribute to Cetus. According to mythology, the hero Perseus appeared in order to destroy the monster and rescue the woman. From then on, Perseus and Andromeda were married and had nine children. After Andromeda's death, the goddess Athena placed it in the sky and turned it into a constellation. For this reason the constellations related to the myth of Perseus are placed around it.

Stars of the constellation Andromeda

Andromeda constellation and characteristics

As mentioned before, it is based on a fairly large grouping of stars considered one of the largest on record. It has 3 large stars with an apparent magnitude less than 3. These stars have the name of Alpha Andromedae, Beta Andromedae and Gamma Andromedae. We are going to analyze the main characteristics of each of them:

Alpha Andromedae

It is the brightest star in the Andromeda constellation. It is known by the name of Alpheratz or Sirah. It is considered as a type of binary star that is formed by two stars that orbit one over the other. It is located at a distance of 97 light years from planet earth. This star also belongs to the constellation Pegasus. Its apparent magnitude is 2.07 and it is the brightest of all mercury-manganese stars.

Beta Andromedae

This star is the second brightest in the constellation Andromeda. Considered a red giant with a magnitude equal to the previous one. It is known by the name of Mirach. According to some estimates by astronomers it is thought to be about 199 light years from our planet. Scientists think that this star is probably more than 100 times the size of the sun.

Gamma Andromedae

We know this star for the name of Almach or Alamak. It is one of the most distant stars in the constellation and is 350 light years from our planet. Initially we thought it was a solitary star, but later it has been discovered that it is a star system made up of 4 stars.

Delta Andromedae

It is a star system made up of 3 stars. The brightest of these is the Delta Andromedae days an orange giant that has an apparent magnitude of 3.28. The distance from our planet is approximately 101 light years.

Epsilon Andromedae

Another of the stars belonging to the constellation Andromeda. It is a yellow giant that is located at a distance of 155 light years from our planet. Its apparent magnitude is 4.4. One of the main characteristics is that the star orbits in the Milky Way with an elliptical orbit. This type of orbit is causing the yellow giant is approaching the sun at a speed of 84 kilometers per second.

Celestial objects

In this constellation there are also some celestial objects that are quite interesting to know. We know that the Andromeda galaxy is a barred spiral-type galaxy that is approximately twice the size of the Milky Way. It is located at a distance of 2.5 million light years from planet earth.

Different measurements of the movement of the galaxy have been made and it has been deduced that The two galaxies will collide in 4500 billion years. The whole of this fact that will give rise to a new larger galaxy. This galaxy has 15 satellite galaxies and each of them stands out for having elliptical galaxies known as M32 and M15.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Andromeda constellation.


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